Gary J. McDonald - Crash Reconstruction

  • Gary McDonald has more than 50 years law enforcement experience, which began after graduating the Michigan State Police Trooper School. Shortly thereafter, Mr. McDonald began his training in crash investigation, he went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and continued his crash reconstruction education and training with the Michigan State Police, he became a Crash Investigation Instructor for Grand Valley State University, and he retired from his law enforcement career in 1994. Mr. McDonald entered crash reconstruction in the private sector, as an Expert in the field.

  • Mr. McDonald’s Areas of Expertise in Crash Reconstruction include:

    • Geometric Construction, Scale Drawing, Scene Examination

    • Speed Determination from Skid Marks, Vaults, Falls, Critical Speed Scuffs

    • Time and Distance Determinations

    • Occupant Restraint Systems

    • Conservation of Linear Momentum

    • Photography (35mm equipment), Video Equipment, and Aerial Photography

    • Examination of Damaged Vehicles — Impact Analysis

    • Lamp Examinations

  • Mr. McDonald’s education includes crash reconstruction curriculum and training from the International Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (I.A.R.R.S.), Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Training Council (M.L.E.O.T.C.), Law Enforcement Training Network (L.E.T.N.), North Florida University’s Institute of Police Technology and Management program (I.P.T.M.), and Michigan Association of Traffic Accident Investigation (M.A.T.A.I.), which include the following areas:

    • Advanced at scene investigations

    • Identification and documentation of roadway evidence

    • Crash Scene photography

    • Identification and documentation of vehicle exterior evidence

    • Vehicle lamp analysis

    • Motorcycle Braking

    • Train Crash Investigation

    • Simulated Linear Accident Momentum (S.L.A.M.), Licensed & Registered

    • Advanced Crash Reconstruction: Vector Sum Analysis, Conservation of Momentum, Conservation of Energy, Law of Sines and Cosines, Mass Ratio considerations

    • Pedestrian Crash Investigations

    • Night Visibility

    • Crush Damage Measurements

    • Energy Applications in Crash Reconstruction

    • Event Data Recorder (EDR)

    • Commercial Vehicle Engine Control Module (ECM) Image Technician

    • Commercial Vehicle Crash Investigations

    • Time and Distance analysis